Black History Month: Russell Simmons

Russell Simmons was born on October 4 1975. Later Russell Simmons began promoting New York City music artists. Then he partnered up with Rick Rubin and started his own company named Def Jam Records. After that he signed music artists like The Beastie Boys and LL Cool J. He eventually sold his stake in Def Jam Records to the Universal Music Group.

10 Interesting Facts About Russell Simmons

1. Born October 4, 1957 a Libra.

2. Responsible for signing musicians such as The Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, and Run-D.M.C in his early 20's. 

3. Dropped out of City College to promote local musicians including Kurtis Blow.

4. He created the clothing fashion lines Phat Farm, Argyleculture, and American Classics. He also produced Def Poetry, begun as a television series on HBO, which also branched into a Broadway live stage production in 2002. In 2000, he co-founded the Internet start-up 360 Hip Hop which he later sold to BET. He is also majority shareholder of the website Global Grind.

5. In 1999 sold his stake in Def Jam Records to Universal Music Group for $120 million.

6.  A strict vegan, yoga enthusiast, and philanthropist.

7. Author of Do You! 12 Laws To Access The Power In You To Achieve Hapiness And Success.

8. Married model Kimora Lee Simmons in 1998 and divorced in 2008.

9. Father of Ming and Aoki Simmons.

10.  Tyra Banks is the godmother of his daughter Ming Lee

by Janiya Daniel

Black History Month: Mary J Blige

Mary J Blige is a singer .She was born January 11 1971. She is from the Bronx NY. Her full name is Mary Jane Blige. She got her first record deal at the age of 17 when a tape of her singing reached the office of Uptown Records. She was a background singer until the release of her first album "What's The 411". She has had several number one hits on the Billboard charts and has won 9 Grammy Awards as well as a NAACP award.

Top 10 Selling Mary J Blige Songs

"REAL LOVE"

"BE WITHOUT YOU"

"NOT GON CRY"

"MY LIFE"

"IM GOIN DOWN"

"FAMILY AFFAIR"

"ENOUGH CRYIN"

"EVERYTHING"

"JUST FINE"

"ALL THAT I CAN SAY"

BY: Desirae, Alani, Richard, Isaac

Black History Month: Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry was born in St.Louis, Missouri on October 18, 1926. He went to Sumner High School. He was a singer, guitarist, and songwriter because these were all things he liked to do. His parents names were Martha and Henry. He loved them very much. He grew up in a very segregated neighborhood.

 

Facts About Chuck Berry

• His first song was released in May 21,1926.
• Berry's first hit was "My Ding-a-Ling" it was uot in 1972.
• A big hit was "Beautiful Delilah" in 1958.
• He was the father of rock n roll.
• Chuck charted in 1959 with "Anthony Boy".

By: Arianna Sosa, Brauleo Lizardo, Voughn Brown

Black History Month: James Brown

James Brown was born on May 3, 1933 and died December 25, 2006. His mucic was R&B, Soul, Funk, Doo-Wop, Rock n Roll, and the Blues. Some of James songs are "I Got You",  "I Feel Good", and "Living In America".

 

Facts About James Brown

1. He has 6 children.
2. He was a dancer
3. He was a singer
4. He was asongwriter
5. He was an activist
6. He was voted the tenth greatest singer of the Rock era
7. He was induted into the Songwriter Hall of Fame in the year 2000

 

By: Naomi Tavarez, Angel Cruz, Christopher Santana

Black History Month: Will Smith

Will Smith was born September 25, 1968. He is 44 years old and he was born in Philadelphia. His zodiac sign is a libra. Will Smith is best for his tv show Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air 1992. He is also known for his rapping. At the age of 16 he met Dj Jazzy Jeff at a party and the two became best friends. Will Smith has starred in movies such as Ali, IRobot, The Men In Black Trilogy, Independence Day, and much more. He is also a father and a husband.

10 Interesting Facts

1. Will Smith could bench 385 pounds while filming I, Robot

2. Will Smith was a millionaire by age 20

3. Will Smith turned down MIT to pursue a music career

4. Smith enjoys playing chess

5. Known for his confidence, Will Smith was worried about making the leap from rapper to actor. When called in to audition for The Cosby Show and A Different World, Smith was a no-show. "I realized later how scared I was to take that step," he told PEOPLE.

6. Will Smith speaks fluent Spanish

7. Will Smith paid for each of his Fresh Prince of Bel-Air costars to upgrade their onset dressing rooms in 1995.

8. Will Smith turned down the role of Neo in The Matrix

9. Will Smith wrote the children's book Just the Two of Us

10. Will Smith is in the Guiness Book Of World Records for attending 3 movie premieres in 1 day.

by Kamille Olivio

Black History Month: Jay-Z

Jay-Z a well know artist was born December 4, 1969 in Brookyln. He was the last of four children born as Sean Corey Carter. Many people know him as an rapper, grammy award winner, owner of a clothing line and a married man to Beyonce Knowles. Jay-Z started his career at age 12 but rapping came to him naturaly. He said that he would just write and the lyrics would become music. Jay-Z had a baby with Beyonce in January 2012. Jay-Z is now 43 years old. I believe that Jay-Z's music influenced today's music because since he started at a young age, he sets an example for younger kids who want to become a rapper or an artist in music.

 

Facts about Jay-z

* Jay-Z role models were drugs dealers
* Jay-Z dealt with drugs and  guns
* Jay-Z dad left him at age 11 so his mom was a single parent
* Jay-Z has 3 other syblings. Two sisters and one brother
* Jay-Z took on his mothers last name
* Jay-Z co-owns the Brooklyn Nets and 40/40 club
* Jay-Z clothes line is rocawear
* Jay-Z is famous for the line "I'm not a businessman.... I'm a business man"

By: Jayda Brown

 

Louis Armstrong

• Occupation: Singer, Trumpet player
• Birth Date: August 4, 1901
• Death Date: July 6, 1971
• Education: Fisk School for Boys, Colored Waif's Home for Boys
• He won numerous Grammy Awards and is in The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

 

By

Arianna Sosa

Alani Fortuna

 

Steve Ouimette hit songs

Steve Ouimette was good. Not only for making mix tapes of  rock songs, but for making a song with a multi-instrument. People say he's really good because of his hit mix tape of the ''Devil went down to Georgia'',''We three kings'', and ''Deuling banjos''. In the game guitar hero 3, you can get these songs free for DLC song pack. Did you know that his hit song deuling banjos is played with 3 guitars. His first guitar, he toke out one string out and replaced to make it sound like a banjo. His second guitar was a seven string guitar as bass. And last was a les paul costom (six string). His second song (the devil went down to georgia) was a remix song made from the charlys band. the song is about the devil toke a trip to georgia and want to challage a young boy named jonny. Because Jonny was showing off. so the devil battles him. If the devil wins he gets his soul, and if jonny wins he gets the golden guitar. So as they battle they take turns making tunes. The last tune is by jonny and he does the ''SOLO OF DEAF'' (i mean thats what i call it ?). ''We three kings'' is one of the best songs of steve ouimette. It has an awesome solo. And it has tune that sounds like an ale

bye by- Michael Troutman

History Of Jazz

       

Did you know that jazz has a very long history? It has been around for many many years.and alot of artists play jazz.it is mostly played in bars,clubs,and resturaunts.it is also mostly played in New Orleans because it mostly came from New Orleans.

by Desirae Drew, Kayleen Abreu, Isaih Johnson

Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington called his music American music rather than Jazz music.
He was born a April 29,1899 in Washington DC. He died at the age of 75 years old on May 24,1974.
Some of his most popular songs were Caravan, Mood Indigo, In A Sentimental Mood, Sophisticated Lady, and Perdido.

by ANGEL CRUZ,VAUGHN BROWN,AND CHRISTOPHER SANTANA

 

 

Ray Charles

 

 

1.Ray charles was born in september 23,1930.

2.Ray charles died in june 10 2004 at the age of 73.

3.Ten of Ray charles songs are:

Georgia on my mind

Hit the road jack

What'd I say

I got a woman

Mess around

Unchain my heart

I can't stop loving you

Shake your tail feathers

You are my sunshine

You don't know me

 

by Nathaniel Delacruz,Kayden Abreu,Naomi Tavarez



Beyonce's Superb Super Bowl Halftime Preformance

During Super Bowl 47 Beyonce Knowles Carter proformed plenty of hit songs that she made in the past . Her preformances consisted of :

"Run the World (Girls)" (Instrumental)

"Love On Top" (a cappella)

"Crazy in Love"

"End of Time"

"Baby Boy"

"Bootylicious"

"Independent Women Part 1"

"Single Ladies"

"Halo"

 

 



This was one of beyonce most electrifying preformances , she will be remebered for this preformance.